JUDGES 2:10-3:31
LUKE 22:14-34
PSALM 92:1-93:5
PROVERBS 14:1-2
JUDGES 2:10-3:31
After that generation died, another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the LORD or remember the mighty things he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight and worshiped the images of Baal. 12 They abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of Egypt. They chased after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them. And they angered the LORD. 13 They abandoned the LORD to serve Baal and the images of Ashtoreth. 14 This made the LORD burn with anger against Israel, so he handed them over to marauders who stole their possessions. He sold them to their enemies all around, and they were no longer able to resist them. 15 Every time Israel went out to battle, the LORD fought against them, bringing them defeat, just as he promised. And the people were very distressed. 16 Then the LORD raised up judges to rescue the Israelites from their enemies. 17 Yet Israel did not listen to the judges but prostituted themselves to other gods, bowing down to them. How quickly they turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to the LORD's commands. 18 Whenever the LORD placed a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering. 19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They followed other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways. 20 So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, " Because these people have violated the covenant I made with their ancestors and have ignored my commands, 21 I will no longer drive out the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died. 22 I did this to test Israel--to see whether or not they would obey the LORD as their ancestors did." 23 That is why the LORD did not quickly drive the nations out or allow Joshua to conquer them all.3:1 THE LORD left certain nations in the land to test those Israelites who had not participated in the wars of Canaan. 2 He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle. 3 These were the nations: the Philistines (those living under the five Philistine rulers), all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in the hill country of Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to Lebo-hamath. 4 These people were left to test the Israelites--to see whether they would obey the commands the LORD had given to their ancestors through Moses. 5 So Israel lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, 6 and they intermarried with them. Israelite sons married their daughters, and Israelite daughters were given in marriage to their sons. And the Israelites worshiped their gods. 7 The Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight. They forgot about the LORD their God, and they worshiped the images of Baal and the Asherah poles. 8 Then the LORD burned with anger against Israel, and he handed them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. And the Israelites were subject to Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. 9 But when Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a man to rescue them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz. 10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel's judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram, and the LORD gave Othniel victory over him. 11 So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.12 Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD's sight, so the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel. 13 Together with the Ammonites and Amalekites, Eglon attacked Israel and took possession of Jericho. 14 And the Israelites were subject to Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. 15 But when Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a man to rescue them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin, who was left-handed. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tax money to King Eglon of Moab. 16 So Ehud made himself a double-edged dagger that was eighteen inches long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. 17 He brought the tax money to Eglon, who was very fat. 18 After delivering the payment, Ehud sent home those who had carried the tax money.19 But when Ehud reached the stone carvings near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, " I have a secret message for you." So the king commanded his servants to be silent and sent them all out of the room. 20 Ehud walked over to Eglon as he was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room and said, " I have a message for you from God!" As King Eglon rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king's belly. 22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king's fat. So Ehud left the dagger in, and the king's bowels emptied. 23 Then Ehud closed and locked the doors and climbed down the latrine and escaped through the sewage access. 24 After Ehud was gone, the king's servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine, 25 so they waited. But when the king didn't come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the door, they found their master dead on the floor. 26 While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the idols on his way to Seirah. 27 When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills. 28 " Follow me," he said, " for the LORD has given you victory over Moab your enemy." So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the shallows of the Jordan River across from Moab, preventing anyone from crossing. 29 They attacked the Moabites and killed about ten thousand of their strongest and bravest warriors. Not one of them escaped. 30 So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and the land was at peace for eighty years. 31 After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath rescued Israel. He killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad.
LUKE 22:14-34
Then at the proper time Jesus and the twelve apostles sat down together at the table. 15 Jesus said, " I have looked forward to this hour with deep longing, anxious to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won't eat it again until it comes to fulfillment in the Kingdom of God." 17 Then he took a cup of wine, and when he had given thanks for it, he said, " Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come." 19 Then he took a loaf of bread; and when he had thanked God for it, he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, " This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, " This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you. 21 " But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. 22 For I, the Son of Man, must die since it is part of God's plan. But how terrible it will be for my betrayer!" 23 Then the disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.24 And they began to argue among themselves as to who would be the greatest in the coming Kingdom. 25 Jesus told them, " In this world the kings and great men order their people around, and yet they are called ` friends of the people.' 26 But among you, those who are the greatest should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. 27 Normally the master sits at the table and is served by his servants. But not here! For I am your servant. 28 You have remained true to me in my time of trial. 29 And just as my Father has granted me a Kingdom, I now grant you the right 30 to eat and drink at my table in that Kingdom. And you will sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 31 " Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have all of you, to sift you like wheat. 32 But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen and build up your brothers."33 Peter said, " Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you." 34 But Jesus said, " Peter, let me tell you something. The rooster will not crow tomorrow morning until you have denied three times that you even know me."
PSALM 92:1-93:5
A psalm to be sung on the LORD's Day. A song.
1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
to sing praises to the Most High.
2 It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,
your faithfulness in the evening,
3 accompanied by the harp and lute
and the harmony of the lyre.
4 You thrill me, LORD, with all you have done for me!
I sing for joy because of what you have done.
5 O LORD, what great miracles you do!
And how deep are your thoughts.
6 Only an ignorant person would not know this!
Only a fool would not understand it.
7 Although the wicked flourish like weeds,
and evildoers blossom with success,
there is only eternal destruction ahead of them.
8 But you are exalted in the heavens.
You, O LORD, continue forever.
9 Your enemies, LORD, will surely perish;
all evildoers will be scattered.
10 But you have made me as strong as a wild bull.
How refreshed I am by your power!
11 With my own eyes I have seen the downfall of my enemies;
with my own ears I have heard the defeat of my wicked opponents.
12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees
and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.
13 For they are transplanted into the LORD's own house.
They flourish in the courts of our God.
14 Even in old age they will still produce fruit;
they will remain vital and green.
15 They will declare, " The LORD is just!
He is my rock!
There is nothing but goodness in him!"
93:1 THE LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.
Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world is firmly established;
it cannot be shaken.
2 Your throne, O LORD, has been established from time immemorial.
You yourself are from the everlasting past.
3 The mighty oceans have roared, O LORD.
The mighty oceans roar like thunder;
the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore.
4 But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore--
the LORD above is mightier than these!
5 Your royal decrees cannot be changed.
The nature of your reign, O LORD, is holiness forever.
PROVERBS 14:1-2
A wise woman builds her house; a foolish woman tears hers down with her own hands. Those who follow the right path fear the LORD; those who take the wrong path despise him.
